Netgear FWG114P v2 ユーザーズマニュアル

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Reference Manual for the ProSafe Wireless 802.11g  Firewall/Print Server Model FWG114P
Wireless Networking Basics
E-11
March 2004, 202-10027-01
The primary information conveyed in the Beacon frames is the authentication method and the 
cipher suite. Possible authentication methods include 802.1X and Pre-shared key. Pre-shared 
key is an authentication method that uses a statically configured pass phrase on both the 
stations and the access point. This obviates the need for an authentication server, which in 
many home and small office environments will not be available nor desirable. Possible cipher 
suites include: WEP, TKIP, and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). We talk more about 
TKIP and AES when addressing data privacy below.
Authentication. EAP over 802.1X is used for authentication. Mutual authentication is gained 
by choosing an EAP type supporting this feature and is required by WPA. 802.1X port access 
control prevents full access to the network until authentication completes. 802.1X 
EAPOL-Key packets are used by WPA to distribute per-session keys to those stations 
successfully authenticated.
The supplicant in the station uses the authentication and cipher suite information contained in 
the information elements to decide which authentication method and cipher suite to use. For 
example, if the access point is using the pre-shared key method then the supplicant need not 
authenticate using full-blown 802.1X. Rather, the supplicant must simply prove to the access 
point that it is in possession of the pre-shared key. If the supplicant detects that the service set 
does not contain a WPA information element then it knows it must use pre-WPA 802.1X 
authentication and key management in order to access the network.
Key management. WPA features a robust key generation/management system that integrates 
the authentication and data privacy functions. Keys are generated after successful 
authentication and through a subsequent 4-way handshake between the station and Access 
Point (AP).
Data Privacy (Encryption). Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) is used to wrap WEP in 
sophisticated cryptographic and security techniques to overcome most of its weaknesses.
Data integrity. TKIP includes a message integrity code (MIC) at the end of each plaintext 
message to ensure messages are not being spoofed.